Combined sash balance and fastener



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

G. J. THOMAS.

GOMBINED SASH BALANCE AND FASTENER. No. 337,536. Patented Mar. 9, 1886. 7

Fig.1.

GU \J U0 A Q g 1%,-

lfl O N. PETERs, Photo-Lithographer, Walhinglnn. no.

(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. J. THOMAS.

COMBINED SASH BALANCE AND PASTENVEB.

No. 337,536. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

w w, Q

mg. E I

rem 2221 0701217, Q g; Qegrge fffi/omew',

N PETERS. Wow-Lithographer. wnmn m. ac

UETED' STATES PATENT Erica.

GEORGE JOHNSTON THOMAS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED SASH BALANCE AND FASTENER.

JPEGEFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,536, dated March. 9. 1886.

Application filed November 23, 1885. Serial No. 188,685. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE JOHNSTON THOMAS, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for Oounterbalancing and Fastening \Vindow-Sashes; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figs. 2 and 3 vertical and longitudinal sections, of a window-frame and its two sashes provided with my invention, the nature of which is defined in the claim hereinafter presented. The plane of section of Fig. 2 is through the lower sash, while the plane of section of Fig. 3 is through the upper sash. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the two mechanisms for elevating and stopping or looking the sashes, there being for each sash such a mechanism, one of which is fixed within one and the other in the other of the two uprights of the window-frame.

In the said drawings, A denotes the window-frame, and B the upper and O the lower of the two sashes thereof, each sash being adapted, as usual, to slide vertically in the said frame. Each sash has fixed to each of its two opposite vertical edges, lengthwise thereof, a toothed rack, a. These racks engage with two gears, I), each of which is fixed on a horizontal shaft, 0, dulyjournaled in a frame, (I. There is within and fastened to each uprighte of the window-frame such a frame, d. and in each of such frames d there are journaled two of the shafts c, which, though separated from each other, are disposed with their axes in line with one another.

Coiled around each shaft 0, aside of its gear I), is a helical or volute spring, j, which at or near its inner end is fastened to the shaft, while at its outer end the spring is secured to the frame d. Thus there are for balancing each of the sashes two of such springs, each of which, as the sash is moved downward,will be coiled tighter or closer about the shaft of such spring, as the gear fixed on such shaft will, by the rack with which it engages, be revolved while the sash may be in movement.

Extending over and across the two gears in each of the uprights, and journaled within the frame d, in which such gears are situated, is a shaft, 9, having on it and over the said two gears two cams, h and z. The shaft extends through the window-frame, and is provided with a handle, is, as represented. By taking. hold of the handle and turning it the shaft may be turned either way laterally of it.

In each of the frames'd, and over and resting on one ofthe cams, is a catchpawl, Z, which Pivoted in each frame d, and arranged spring answer as a friction mechanism to hold the shaft 9 from turning, after being turned to cause the pa W1 to be elevated or forced upward out of engagement with the gear over which such pawl is placed.

From the above it will be seen that each sash 7 5 is counterbalanced by two helical springs,and that such sash may be locked at any elevation within the range of its motion by means of tHe W gear on the shaft of one of such springs and also, that accidental turning of the shaft y under the pawl will be prevented by the cam on such shaft and the arm and spring over such cam.

.the catchpawl immediately over such gear;

By having each of the sashes counterbalanced by two helical springs, acting as described, by means of gears and racks, the cords and weights as generally employed are dispensed with,as well as the danger of the cords becoming in time worn and broken.

I do not claim. a sash-balance consisting of a rack fixed to the window-frame, a pinion or gear pivoted to the sash and engaging with the rack, a coiled spring fixed to the arbor of the pinion and extending around such and fastened 5 to the sash, and a catch-pawl to engage with the gear, as to such I have made additions, as hereinbefore described-that is to say, I have applied to each sash twor cks, and have within the window-frame two gears to engage with the helical springs f, applied to the shafts c of gears I have a helical spring, and to one of the said gears, and the catch-pawl Z over one of gears a catch-pawl, and with such catch-pawl the said gears, of the'shaft g and its cams h I employ the shaft 9 and its cams h and i, and and i, and the friction-arm m and its spring 15 5 the friction-arm an and its spring n, all being n, all being arranged substantially and to op-' to operate as hereinbefore explained. erate as set forth.

Iclaim-- 1- The combination, with the Window-frame GEORGE 'TOHNSrlON ThOMAS' such racks, and to each of the shafts of such and either or each sash thereof, and with two Witnesses: IO racks, (1, applied to opposite edges of such R. H. EDDY, sash, the gears b, engaging with such racks, B. B. TORREY. 

